The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12
SEl.c GttaWa trse Grader.
rpITokIAL COMMENT.

a
.s,j,ns NJ Washington than the hshery one
-, ,hst ,f coast detenses Is, who shall ue
,,,rl., as If the more social impoItuuce
a., ,,ivas of senators or the wives OF
membars of the cabinet? Heretofore 'he!
have all stood about On the same !"''"e'
h,, tho euac,men, Of the law placing the
succession 10 tn presidency inmrmoeFS OF
the cabinet, in case OF the death "i 'o'n
,ba presiden, aud Vice President, has had
,h. .fr.ct of creating "a guilt " which yet
yswns and will not be bridget. ne VIE
10 one senator has suggested that the Tres
,dent issue a proclamation settling, In an
authoritative way, the matter; Out IN yet
The chief executive has refused u become
embroiled in the controversy III Is OF the
Ureatest importance TO the nation at large
whether the cabinet ladies call on the sen
,tcrial ladies' or cice rersd, and the nation
ought not to be kept in suspense lhen'
t,o, the present uncertainty is provocative
Of great deal Of unnecessary clamos and
had blood. All sorts Of retalistory meas
res have been suggested and threatened
by both sides, but as yet no blood has been
shed. If the President Is persistent In his
determination not to become u party to the
wu, congress might thrust itself Into the
midst of the fray and pass an ACT that
would put an end 10 the matter Congress
is generally willing to pass acts that are
absut as relative to the public good as this
quest on Of social predence Is.
1t is gratifying to the public at large
that the fight which seemed to he on with
England when Senator Ingalls, made his
speech In the senate two weeks since 10
now decidedly fl Even the warriors at
Washington are In pacific state OF mind,
and not one word is to be heard about
draft being ordered 1t is doubtful If any
Legislative body In the world has 80 many
peace fighters in It rs has the United Mates
senate. The fierceness displayed by them
when they can smell the battle from siar
IL something terrible. 1t takes such hold
upon the average member that he cannot
restrain him self from talkiag To be sure,
he dses not fight but he does talk. lie
talks loud and long. He fights with his
tongue as fiercely as any knight OF old ever
fought with spear and mace. There Is
much that is praisewcrthy In all this. II Is
a mode of warfare utterly free from dan.
ger. II requires neither surgeon or hospi-
tai. The only attendant necessary Is Il
Temperance" restauraIteur who keeps on
hand some heating beverage such as self
ger, appolonaris water, and the like. When
the honorable senator is enthused by such
fire creating liquid he talks war In way
that shows him Thirsty to the most
intense degree. However, there is one
very essential thing that these warriors
brave lack, and that Is fighting qualities
when q fight is actually on hand. At such
. time their whole theory of war is changed,
and Instead Of mingling In the fray they
follow the injunction
He who fights and runs away
VIII live 10 fight another day,
But he who Is In battle slain,
VIII never live TO fight again.
1t Is a singular thing, aud one worthy Of
comment, that In the senate of the United
States after March 4th there will be but
one farmer-Senator.e elect Reagan OF Texas.
What makes this more noticeable Is the
fact that there are In this country some.
thing over 10000 persons engaged in az
dcultural pursuits-a number greater by
far than in any other branch of industry
The senate Is the resort now OF corporation
lawyers and millionaire merchants who
have individual ends 10 promote. Senator
Reagan will feel very lonesome when he
gets up TO deliver an address in behalf of
some measure promotive of the good Of the
farmer. IL Is TO be hoped that he will bs
able TO at least obtain respectful hearing
even II unable ever 10 secure the passage
of measure he may advocate
Speaking of Senator Reagan calls to
mind the misfortune that overlook him In
the house, month since, when vote WAS
taken on calling up the Morrison tariff!
measure. 1t was called up somewhat ear
lier than expected, and when Reagan's
name was called no response WAS heard. 1t
was called second time and still no re-.
spouse. The tariff reformers At once insti
tuted search for the missing man, aud at
last found him taking bath. On being
Informed Of what was going on he attempt
ed 70 dress In time 10 reach the Assem- oily
room before II was too late, but il was no
use. He forgot to dry himself before Try,
Ing 70 get into his shirt, and as 4 result his
shirt stuck. He then called for blanket
10 wrap himself In, but none was to be had
Finally he got half into his clothes and
appeared on the scene, but IL was too late
the roll had been called, and Reagan's
action had cost him his vote
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